ECC approves uniform fuel charge adjustment for entire country, including Karachi

In a major policy decision aimed at bringing uniformity in electricity pricing across Pakistan, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved the implementation of a uniform fuel charges adjustment (FCA) for the entire country, including Karachi.

The ECC meeting, chaired by the Finance Minister, considered a proposal from the Power Division and gave its formal approval to standardise monthly fuel charge adjustments for all consumers.

According to the decision, the monthly adjustment in electricity tariffs will now be uniform nationwide. This means that both increases and decreases in fuel charges will be applied equally across the country, including for K-Electric consumers.

At present, the system of fuel charges adjustment operates separately for K-Electric and for the rest of the country, often leading to disparities in electricity bills between Karachi and other regions. However, under the new arrangement, the mechanism will mirror the already uniform structure of the basic tariff and quarterly adjustments, which are the same nationwide.

Officials said this decision would not only ensure fairness and transparency in power tariffs but also eliminate the perception of preferential or unequal treatment between Karachi and other cities.

The Power Division had moved the summary to address long-standing complaints of inconsistency in billing structures, particularly from consumers and industry stakeholders.

 Reporter: Waqas Azeem